All Blacks beat Pumas to clinch yet more silverware

By Daniel Gilhooly

The All Blacks have overcome another staunch Pumas challenge to prevail 35-17 in Buenos Aires and clinch the Rugby Championship with a round to spare.

Winger Rieko Ioane scored two of New Zealand's five tries as they did enough to maintain their historic unbeaten record against the improving Pumas.

Too good: New Zealand celebrate after winning the Rugby Championship following their victory in Argentina.Credit:AP

It also handed the All Blacks the SANZAAR silverware for a third successive year, achieving it before next week's final-round encounter against the in-form Springboks in Pretoria.

Coming off a shock 36-34 home loss to South Africa, the visitors dominated the scrum and were more clinical with their finishing in an otherwise-even contest at Estadio Jose Amalfitani.

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As with the 22-point win over the Pumas in Nelson earlier this month, the All Blacks were flattered by the final scoreline.

Ioane's double, which took him to 20 tries from 19 Tests, came against the run of play as the visitors opened up a 21-3 halftime lead.

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Five-eighth Beauden Barrett landed all five of his conversions in a return to goalkicking form after a forgettable effort against the Springboks.

The pick of a mostly second-string pack was No.8 Ardie Savea, a late call-up to start in place of Luke Whitelock who was ruled out through illness.

Two botched New Zealand lineouts helped five-eighth Nicolas Sanchez open the scoring with a penalty.

However, the All Blacks got the next one right and put Ioane in space for his first try via slick backline work.

Fellow winger Waisake Naholo stretched out from close range to extend the lead before Ioane had his second when he pounced on a spilled ball and was untroubled in a 30 metre dash to the line.

The All Blacks spent long periods either side of halftime defending their line, achieving it while down to 14 men for 10 minutes after Sonny Bill Williams was shown a 37th-minute yellow card for his team's repeat offending.